The findings give Mr O’Callaghan strong public backing as he presses ahead with a €520 flat fee for solicitors in criminal legal aid cases. The poll shows 49 per cent support the minister’s position, compared with 21 per cent who back the solicitors, 18 per cent who support neither side and 12 per cent who do not know.

A majority of voters, 53 per cent, agree that solicitors should be paid a flat rate fee regardless of how many court appearances a case requires.

Support for the changes comes against a backdrop of a sustained withdrawal of services by criminal defence solicitors and warnings that the dispute could add to court backlogs when the full court schedule resumes in the autumn.

Mr O’Callaghan has defended the “one accused, one fee” principle as a necessary safeguard against abuse of the previous system, while allowing a further €520 payment where new charges are separate and distinct.

The polling also strengthens Mr O’Callaghan politically pushing his approval rating ahead of Taoiseach Micheál Martin with more than half of voters favouring him as the next leader of Fianna Fáil.